We've heard about the effects of this occupation on our veterans, on our families, on the Iraqi people, and on the economy. Now, it is time to understand what this occupation has done to our military.

Steve Mortillo served in Iraq from March 2004 to February 2005. He is very proud of the men he served with and under, especially his NCOs. Performing "presence" patrols everyday put a lot of strain on the Bradley fighting vehicles that Mortillo's troop used. In April, the fighting picked up substantially, and the need for spare parts and equipment became dire. Not having the equipment they needed while watching civilian contractors on the base performing easy tasks and getting paid three or four times as much as the military men risking their lives outside the wire was Mortillo's first hint that taking care of the military was not a priority.

While on R&R, Steve was told of a friend back in Iraq who had been very critically wounded. Shortly after, another one of his squad mates was hit by an IED and died. The casualties continued to increase, as did the pace of the fighting. More and more Bradleys were going down and having to be repaired. His unit was was stretched to the breaking point, a microcosm of the military in general.